Link to 2011 South Africa Trip Pictures

Wanted to give you a link to the pictures I have on my computer that can be downloaded.

2011 South Africa Album

Ritch

Mon. Feb 28th

We had a wonderful dinner here in the camp last night to celebrate. We managed to see all of the big 5 in one day yesterday. We went out again in the afternoon and saw a leopard. It was a quick look at it as it crossed the road but that topped the day for us. We were up at the crack of dawn again this morning and again were blessed to see so much including a black mamba in the road and a pack of wild dog. Erlo couldn't empasize how blessed we really were and we let him know he must bring an American if he wants to see all of these things. We leave for home tomorrow and it is bittersweet as we have all grown to love Africa. We will have a ton of pictures to share after we get back. There will be no more posts for this trip. See you all when we return. God Bless You!

lions, tigers... oh my!

Sorry there hasn't been posts lately but after we left Estcourt I didn't have access to the internet. 


Durban was beautiful but hot and humid. The container Ministry Conference was as awesome as last year and the Lord's provision of the beach house was again such a huge blessing.  The South Africans are so warm and hospitable and thankful for all the Lord is doing with our team in their country.  We delivered half of the team to the King Shaka International Airport for their flight home on Friday, spent a relaxing night at the beach house.  On Saturday morning we left at 5:45 for Kruger Game Park and didn't arrive at our destination until 5:30 that night.  They lock you in at night at the different camps in Kruger and then turn on the electric fence so the predators don't get you.  Sunday morning we were up and out the gate when it opened at 5:30.  This turned out to be a good move as we were able to see alot of the big wildlife before noon. Elephant, zebra, giraffe, antelope, black rhino, cape buffalo, wildebeest and lion were all located. We only have the leopard left to see and we will have seen all of the big 5. Thank you Lord!!


Thank you for your prayers- can't wait to tell you all our stories of His glory!

Friday and Saturday Feb 17 and 18

Friday – Talk about the Power of Prayer….today we had a prime example of that power. We had an assembly of the Estcourt Christian Academy and did our bible stories and a skit for them. We were then scheduled to head off to a new area not yet reached by Hearts of Compassion called Zwelisha. Apparently there is some strong ancestral worship that goes on there and several murders recently in this area. This is the area I felt was the key to all of the areas around Estcourt. If HOC could begin work here the word would spread quickly about the Lord. We’ve been traveling in two separate vehicles because there are so many of us and as the second vehicle was leaving the church compound the engine started racing. Eugene was able to figure out that the accelerator rod had bent below the pedal where it was welded to a hinge. He was able to keep his hand on the pedal and drive it back to the compound. All of us in the vehicle started praying and Eugene went to call Erlo to tell him what had happened to us. He went to the main church office and when he passed through he smelled a welder working on the property. This man came back with him and welded a support rod for us. It was fixed in 5 minutes. God overcame and we went on our way to Zwelisha where we had a great meeting with the new home based care workers in that area. Was this a coincidence? I don’t think it was. I think it was an answer to prayer. I think God was saying ‘if you are willing to go, I am willing to help you get there’. Later that night we went to the church’s youth gathering and had a blast with the kids as well as being able to pray with many of them.

Saturday – Today was a rest day. We were ready to roll at 5:45am and all went to Weenan Game Reserve where we saw lots of different buck and giraffe. We really wanted to see the black rhinos but could find any visible anywhere. We stopped at one of the picnic areas for a terrific breakfast that Auntie Shacks made for us.

We came back to town and rested before heading over to Shack’s and Tony’s house for the traditional brai (BBQ).

Sunday and Monday Feb 19-20

Sunday-


We had the services at Midlands Christian Centre and Pastor Dermot preached on forgiveness. This is what we have been sharing about with the Zulus all week so it was very fitting as he didn’t know what we were doing when he gave that message. Reconciliation is what is needed here so those types of messages are wonderful. We then had some lunch before heading off to Dalton Bridge to worship with that Zulu community. There is always lots of singing and dancing out there. I absolutely love it and get right into the middle of it. We were able to baptize 8 yesterday. What a blessing to be part of that since we were there to hear the first sermon Erlo ever gave out there. God is working is a mighty way.

Monday –

We are dividing up today with most of the guys going back to Dalton Bridge to finish the play structure and the rest going to the orphanage at Colenso to sort school books that were shipped over in one of the containers. More to come …………….

Friday – Talk about the Power of Prayer….today we had a prime example of that power. We had an assembly of the Estcourt Christian Academy and did our bible stories and a skit for them. We were then scheduled to head off to a new area not yet reached by Hearts of Compassion called Zwelisha. Apparently there is some strong ancestral worship that goes on there and several murders recently in this area. This is the area I felt was the key to all of the areas around Estcourt. If HOC could begin work here the word would spread quickly about the Lord. We’ve been traveling in two separate vehicles because there are so many of us and as the second vehicle was leaving the church compound the engine started racing. Eugene was able to figure out that the accelerator rod had bent below the pedal where it was welded to a hinge. He was able to keep his hand on the pedal and drive it back to the compound. All of us in the vehicle started praying and Eugene went to call Erlo to tell him what had happened to us. He went to the main church office and when he passed through he smelled a welder working on the property. This man came back with him and welded a support rod for us. It was fixed in 5 minutes. God overcame and we went on our way to Zwelisha where we had a great meeting with the new home based care workers in that area. Was this a coincidence? I don’t think it was. I think it was an answer to prayer. I think God was saying ‘if you are willing to go, I am willing to help you get there’. Later that night we went to the church’s youth gathering and had a blast with the kids as well as being able to pray with many of them.

Saturday – Today was a rest day. We were ready to roll at 5:45am and all went to Weenan Game Reserve where we saw lots of different buck and giraffe. We really wanted to see the black rhinos but could find any visible anywhere. We stopped at one of the picnic areas for a terrific breakfast that Auntie Shacks made for us.

She has been keeping us well fed and yesterday was no exception.  After we returned we had a traditional South African brai (BBQ) at her house yesterday and we had bit of a downpour and wind during the middle of it.  It didn’t dampen our spirits at all and we totally stuffed ourselves as Shacks kept prodding us to “eat more, eat more” as is her nature.  I think that is her way of showing love to us.  Her husband’s name is Tony and he works shift work at the Nestles Coffee factory here in town.  He was off at 8am in the morning and we come round at 5pm and stay until almost 9pm.  I feel so sorry for him to have to work as hard as he does but he says he is going to retire in two years so that is great.  They are of Indian descent (last name is Singh) and such great people you wouldn’t believe. 

Thursday Feb 17

We had a physical work out on Thursday.  We are building a new playground at Dalton Bridge School.  The school has a broken down slide and swing set that are not only broken down but also way too small for the older kids.  This playground will have three slides as well as a couple of climbing ladders.  The men dug 13 footings while the ladies did a skit at the school for the kids and then went on to deliver some food and do hut to hut ministry.  Bevie was able to visit the blind fellow she led to the Lord last year.  He told her he had a dream that she was coming to see him and that there would be a party.  It was emotional times for all that were there as he was so excited to receive a Proclaimer from her.  With this device he can listen to the bible in Zulu.  He indicated he wants to be one of the people being baptized on Sunday in the Bushman River. They use the school building to hold Sunday service and the team plans to be part of it and the baptisms afterward.  After they came back to the school we began the laborious process of setting the brackets in cement.  It was a lot of work mixing the cement by hand on a big sheet of plastic under the hot African sun.  Suzanne and Rachel jumped in to help with the cement which old man Ritch a break.  Thank you girls! We all were totally wiped out from the emotion, sun and hard work and our showers felt sooo good.  A few hours and a wonderful dinner later we were off to bible study and prayer at the “home cells”.  Essentially these are like our life groups.  These people are so gracious and open hearted with the “American visitors”.   It was a long but very rewarding day.